Tire-tightener



(No Model.)

M. H. SAGER 8: J. M. ALVIS.

. TIRE TIGHTENER. No. 593,693. Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

NITED STATES MYRON H. SAGER AND JOSEPH M. ALVIS, OF LOS ANGELES, (JALlFORNIA.

PATENT Fries.

TlRE -TIG HTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,693, dated November 16, 1897.

Application filed May 5, 1897.

. tire-tightening machines which pressthe felly out and against the tire and thereby tighten the same.

The objects of our improvement are to construct a machine that will not draw the spokes from the hub and loosen them in tightening the tire, to simplify the device, lessen the cost of its construction, and render it more efiective and less liable to get out of order. We accomplish these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of our improved machine in place on the wheel ready for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the machine with the foot-piece removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the foot-piece or wedge E,

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the spokes; B, the fellies; C, the hub; D, the lifter; E, the wedge or footpiece; F, the threaded shank which operates the lifter; G, the lever; H, a bolt which passes through the Wedge E and groove I in the shank F to attach the shank to the foot-piece; I, an annular groove on the shank F; J and K, lugs on. the lifter, and L an eyehole in shank F for the reception of the handle-lever G.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The lifter D is put in place on the rim of the Wheel and nextto the spoke, the projection J resting above the tire, and the projection K will then be below the felly. The footpiece or wedge E is then placed between the spokes and next to the hub. The sides of the wedge are grooved, so as to conform as near as possible to the shape of and to fit the side of the spokes against which the wedge is designed to press, the object being to prevent marring the spokes and to keep the foot-piece in place. The rotation of the. shank F by means of the removable lever G will cause the lifter to press against the felly and de- Serial mltsmze. (No model.)

press the foot-piece between the spokes next to the hub until it becomes firmly seated therein. The further rotation of the shank will raise the felly from its seat on the spoke. The pressure thus exerted on the foot-piece will prevent the spokes from following the fellies as they are being lifted away from the hub and will hold the spokes firmly in place in the hub. The purpose of placing this footpiece between the spokes and removed from the hub is to place on the spokes all the pressure which is exerted in raising the fellies. To accomplish this, the sharp end of the wedge is cut away, so as to prevent it resting at all on the hub and keeping all pressure therefrom. By this arrangement the portion of the spokes in the hub will not be in any manner affected no matter howmuch pressure may be used to expand the fellies and tighten the tire. The space between the shoulder on the spoke and the felly is then filled in the usual well-known manner with washers, wedges, Babbitt metal, or other substances. Then the shank is rotated in the reverse direction,which will cause the projection J on the lifter to press against the tire and raise the foot-piece from its seat between the spokes, where it may have become wedged by the pressure which has been placed thereon. The machineis then removed from the wheel. The top of the shank F at and above the point where the eyeholeL is placed for the reception of the lever is preferably made fiat, so that an ordinary adjustable Wrench may be used instead of the lever G, if more convenient, the jaws of the wrench passing on either side thereof and gripping the same in turning.

We place around the foot-piece, so as to cover the grooves or recesses therein, (which are made to conform to the shape of the spokes,) a strip of leather, rubber, rawhide, or other substance, the object being to prevent marring the spokes at the point where the foot-piece presses against them.

Our machine can be simplified by omitting the annular groove I from the shank, leaving off the boltH and also the jaw J The footpiece from the lifter D will then be loosened from its seat between the spokes by canting the shank F back and forth. It being wedgeshaped the movement back and forth 'will loosen it from its seat, so it can be removed.

Vhere the space between the spokes is too great, as in large wheels, for the width of the foot-piece to operate without pressure against the hub, then we place any convenient substance between the wedge and the spoke, and thereby widen the wedge and prevent it pressing against the hub.

Now, having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a tire-tightener, the lifter D having two projections which extend one above the tire and the other below the felly in combination with a threaded shank adapted. to move the lifter up or down when rotated; the shank having at one end a foot-piece adapted to fit between the spokes and flattened at the other end, whereby the rotation of the shank will cause the fellies to recede from the hub and tighten the tire and the rotation in an opposite direction will draw the foot-piece from its seat between the spokes.

2. In a tire-tightener, a lifter, adapted to move longitudinally on a threaded shank, the shank having a foot-piece adapted to wedge between the spokes next to thehub the lifter having jaws adapted to extend above and below the rim of the wheel, whereby the rotation of the shank in one direction will seat the foot-piece between the spokes and press the felly from the spokes and against the tire and the rotation in the other direction will cause the foot-piece to recede from its seat between the spokes and become loosened thereby.

M. II. SAGER. J. M. ALVIS. Witnesses M. S. MCLEAN, G. E. HARPIIAM. 

